Inkstand set



Oct. 24,. 1939. F. M. ASHLEY 2,177,273

- INKSIAND SET Filed May 10, 1938 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INKSTAND SET Application May 10, 1938, Serial No. 206,966

12 Claims.

My invention relates to inkstand sets consisting of an inkstand formed with a dip opening adapted to support a pen-holder which serves as a cork for the ink-well.

The object of my invention is to provide an inkstand having a body portion with an ink-well therein, and a resilient diaphragm by means of which ink may be forced from the well into a cup 'Which rests on the bottom of the well and is disconnected from the diaphragm to relieve the diaphragm from the weight of the cup and ink contained therein.

A further object is to provide means whereby the well is normally in open communication with the atmosphere to a sufficient degree to permit the atmospheric pressure in the Well to change as the atmospheric pressure changes so that the pressure will be equalized.

A further object is to provide an inkstand that may be made in part of wood coated by enamel in selected colors, and the inner surfaces Which are in contact with ink coated with a paint that is not affected by the acids of the ink.

The body portion may be made from a block of wood or from saw-dust held by a binder and molded under pressure in proper molds to provide the desired forms.

Heretofore the diaphragms used in making inkstands have been made very thin to permit them to be depressed by the nibs of a pen to force ink into the dip-tube, and such diaphragms are not suitable for use with a stand designed to carry the pen-holder for the reason that they soon sag and become permanently distorted.

In the present case the diaphragm is made of relatively stiff material such as Celluloid or of vulcanized rubber having thickened walls capable of carrying a thin sleeve and pen-holder without distortion when the ink-cup is disconnected therefrom.

Referring to the drawing which forms a part of the specification:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view thru an inkstand showing my invention and illustrating the use of a thin Celluloid diaphragm of a color selected to harmonize with the color of the body portion.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a stand in which soft rubber is used for a diaphragm, and carries a sleeve which extends nearly to the bottom of the well.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a construction in which the diaphragm and sleeve portions are made integral.

The body portion may be made of glass or lastie in so far as the operation of the stand is concerned but I prefer to make it of wood, either turned from a solid piece or pressed from sawdust and thereafter coated with paint or enamel resistant to acid in the ink, which may be applied thereto by dipping the body Ill into a bath of the coating material or painting or spraying it thereon to completely encase the wood.

The coating material may be of any desired color or colors to preserve the wood and to present an ornamental effect, or to match the color of a desk on which it is to rest.

In Figures 1 and 2, the dip-cup and sleeve, l2 and I2 respectively, are shown as made of wood and coated with the same material and in the same manner as that used for the body portion but may have a different color if desired.

Each of the diaphragms l l are formed to provide a depending flange H which fits in the opening in the top of the body and is easily removed therefrom for the purpose of cleaning the well.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper end l2 and sleeve I 2' are formed integral and rest loosely in the central opening of the diaphragm H to permit air to pass from the Well thru the said central opening in case the air expands in the well to exert a pressure greater than that of the outer atmospheric pressure, said loose construction serving to form a valve controlled passage I3 which is closed air-tight when pressure is manually applied in the act of forcing the diaphragm downwardly, thus compressing the air above the ink in the well and forcing the ink to flow upwardly between the inner Wall of the sleeve and outer Wall of the ink-cup I 5'.

The cup portion comprising the base l4 and cup I5, rests on the bottom of the well Ill and is freely removable therefrom, or if preferred may be made integral therewith, and its diameter is less than the diameter of the tubular sleeve l2 to form a passage l6 leading from the bottom of the well to the upper end of the cup 15.

The upper end of the cup is spaced from the under side of the dip opening to provide a space l5 which permits the diaphragm to descend in the filling operation and also to serve as an overflow in case the valve construction I3 should become clogged and close the passage.

It will be understood that the passage thru the valve under normal condition of rest is closed but not necessarily air-tight and that in any event by lifting the sleeve slightly, air will pass thru and any ink which may have been forced into the space ill will flow back into the well Ill.

The upper surface of the diaphragms shown in Figures 2 and 3, are coated with a colored enamel to prevent staining the rubber with ink and to effect an ornamental appearance.

When the ink-cup is made of wood it will float upward in the ink until the cup is filled with ink when it will descend. and rest on the bottom of the stand; therefore I prefer to make the cups of glass or heavier material than wood where the stand is to be sold at a price that will justify the additional cost.

By making the stand as illustrated the diaphragm will retain its resiliency and strength for a long period of time and by relieving it of the weight of the cup and ink therein it permits relative movement between the sleeve and cup which keeps the passage 56 between them free from clogging action of dry ink or sediment; also permits the parts to be easily cleaned. All of the parts are durable and the entire construction may be provided at a low cost.

The dip-opening l 'l' is formed to support apenholder with-the pen in the ink of the cup, and serves as a cork to close the ink-well.

Having thus disclosed my invention I claim as new:

1. An inkstand comprising a body portion and an inkwell comprising a cup formed integral therewith, a diaphragm covering the inkwell, and a sleeve carried by said diaphragm and extending over the cup to near the bottom of the well; the construction comprising a passage leading from the lower end of the sleeve to theupper end of the cup.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, together with; said body portion being made of Wood coated with an ink-proof coating on its inner and outer walls.

3. An inkstand.- comprising a body portion of wood having a well formed therein, a flexible diaphragm over the well, a dip-tube and sleeve carried by the diaphragm, a cup for ink resting on the bottom of the well and extending upward within the sleeve; all of said parts being coated with an ink-proof coating of colored material; said parts being assembled asshown and described.

4. An inkstand comprising a body portion having a well for ink, a diaphragm over the well, a dip-tube carried by the diaphragm together with a sleeve, and a dip-cup resting on the bottom of the well, the outer wall of the dip-cup. resting near the inner wall of the sleeve and its upper end located adjacent the lower end. of the dipcup; the construction being such that the diptube and sleeve are entirely disconnected from the cup and itsbase portion.

5. Ihe construction defined in claim 4, together with; said diaphragm and sleeve being f ormed integral.

6. An inkstand comprising a body portion having a well for ink, a diaphragm of soft rubber and a dip-tube formed integral therewith, a sleeve carried by the diaphragm and extending nearly to the bottom of the Well, and an inkcup resting within the sleeve and resting on the bottom of the well and entirely disconnected from the diaphragm; the construction being such as to provide a conduit for ink leading from the well to the upper end of the cup.

7. An inkstand comprising a body portion having an ink-well therein, a diaphragm extending over the well, a cup for ink resting on the bottom of the well and extending nearly to the upper end thereof, a sleeve carried by the diaphragm and extending downwardly thereover in spaced relation and having an opening in its upper end formed to support a pen-holder.

8. An inkstand comprising a body portion having an ink-well therein, a diaphragm comprising a resilient material overlying the well, a cup for ink resting on the bottom of the well and extending nearly to the upper end thereof, a sleeve carried by the diaphragm and extending downwardly thereover, the construction comprising a passage leading from the lower end of the well to the upper end of the cup.

9. The construction defined in claim '8, together with, said sleeve element fitting loosely in the diaphragm and serving the function of a valve to permit air to escape from the Well to the atmosphere.

10. An inkstand comprising a body portion of colored enameled material having a well for ink therein, a stiff resilient diaphragm fitted in the upper end of the Well and having a central opening, a sleeve'fitted loosely in said opening to serve the function of a valve which is opened on the upward movement of the sleeve and closed on the downward movement thereof, a cup for ink extending upwardly in said sleeve and disconnected therefrom, said construction embodying a passage for ink leading from the well to the upper end of said cup.

11. An inkstand comprising a body portion having a well therein for ink, a diaphragm overlying the open end of the well, a sleeve extending from the diaphragm nearly to the bottom of the well, an ink-cup extending from the bottom of the well within the sleeve nearly to its upper end, a dip opening formed in the upper end of the sleeve element adapted to support a penholder with a pen extending therefrom into the cup, the construction providing a space above the cup to hold overflow ink flowing from the well and a passage leading from the well to the upper end of the cup, and said overflow chamber or space.

12. An inkstand comprising a body portion having a well for ink, a diaphragm extending over the well and serving to normally close the same, said diaphragm having a central opening; a sleeve element comprising an upwardly'extending top portion having an opening formed to support a pen-holder and also having an annularv groove located adjacent the upper end' of the.

sleeve into which the inner edge portion of the diaphragm extends and rests in loose fitting relation to provide a valve which is adapted to open automatically by air pressure in the well and may also be manually operated, and a cup for ink enclosed by the sleeve and extending nearly to the upper end thereof.

FRANK M. ASHLEY. 

